eIroh looked up from his tea and stared blankly at Zuko before grasping what he had actually said. "What makes you think that?" He asked a bit startled by his nephew's sudden words.

Zuko looked annoyed by his uncle's lack of understanding. "I over heard the other maids, talking about some girl who's being pushed for information on someone, and I think it might be information about us." Said Zuko tearing off the metal helmet and tossing it to the side.

"Now nephew, don't be jumping to conclusions now…" he said taking a sip of tea, though you could see the look of concern on his face.

"I haven't seen her either, at ALL!" he said his voice raising. For a moment Iroh forgot about his concern and found a smile creeping across his face.

"Why so worried?" He asked sitting his tea down on the table.

"Uh…I'm not,"

"Your, not?"

"You're missing the point!" Zuko said angrily reaching out his hands like claws prepared to choke his uncle but holding back the urge.

He sighed. "Ryoko…is in trouble," He said letting his hands flop down to his side. "You must have a plan." He said helplessly, sinking to a level he had never gone before.

Iroh smiled at his nephew. "Way ahead of you…"

Ryoko

Her cheek was pressed against the cold metal wall, and the pain in her back was like no other she had ever felt before. She let out a loud gasp of pain, one of many that had come from her lips in the past hour or so.

She slowly slid down the wall and crumpled into a pile of ripped fabric and blood.

The captain of the ship stared down his nose at the mess at his feet. "You have not only lost all of your honor, but you have betrayed your country."

Ryoko, though her body aching with unbearable pain, lit with anger. "I have not lost an once of my honor," she spat up at him, gasping for breath in-between words ", But you have" her last words were choked by the strength it took her to say them.

The man didn't say anything but turned on his heal and stalked away. "The dungeons." Was all she heard him say before her vision slowly began slipping into darkness.

Zuko

Zuko forced his swords down into his belt side. He was wearing the same tight black cloths he had worn only twice before. Iroh walked into the room and almost dropped his cup of tea.

"You know, you almost look like that…" He stopped when he saw the blue and white mask held tightly in his hand. "…Blue Spirit." This time he really did drop his tea.

"Ill explain later uncle," Said Zuko pulling the mask on over his face. Iroh just stared at him for a minute before finally speaking. "Just…be careful." He said putting Zuko on the shoulder.

Zuko nodded and in once swift movement had left the room.

Iroh shook his head before repeating to himself, "Be safe."

Zuko slipped through the halls, and the passageways that only someone who had been truly bored would be able to find. The possibility that Ryoko was perfectly fine was still in the back of his head, but as he went on it slowly began to disappear as pure worry and anticipation took its place.

He made a quick duck behind an open door as a guard walked by.

The guard stared looked around at the side of the door Zuko had just disappeared behind, but found no one was there. He shrugged and continued walking down the hall.

Zuko held tight to the handles of his swords that he had sunk deep into the ceiling. His feet wear pressed against the wall making it a little easier for him to support himself as he stared down at the guard slowly walking away. He let his body drop from the ceiling and pulled his swords out.

He continued his stealthy path through the ship hiding from the guards.

Once or twice he though he was getting closer, but when he turned the corner he found nothing but another long hallway. He groaned inwardly and quickly slipped down another hallway.

He peered around a corner and saw a large black door at the end of the doorway with a guard standing at both sides. He took a minute to think about his options before whipping around the corner, blades held high and eye's gleaming.

The guards stood for a moment, completely thrown off guard by this new accuser. "Uh…hey!" said the larger guard, lifting a hand stupidly to point at Zuko. "Let me pass".

Oh my gosh, I am soooo sorry it took me so long to update, you totally and completely have the right to kill me but please don't!